Thermostatically operating device



Filed May 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1939 lATENT OFFiCE THERMOSTATICALLY OPERATING DEVICE Roy H. Zinkil, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 14, 1936, Serial No. 79,665

3 Claims.

More particularly, this invention relates to a thermostatic safety unit for use in connection with shower baths and other plumbing fixtures for the purpose of providing a safeguard against 5 possible injuries arising due to scalding or eX- cessively high temperatures of water discharging from such fixture. This hazard is remedied by either thermostatically cutting off or else reducing the flow of water when the temperature thereof exceeds a predetermined degree.

In the past, devices used for this purpose have generally consisted of a discharge controlling valve of the usual type in which the latter was operated by a thermostatic control, as for eX- ample, by a bellows type of thermostat. It is necessary for the purpose intended that such a device be positive in` its operation at definitely established or relatively narrow predetermined ranges of temperatures without being harmfully affected by the variations in the pressure of the water during its course of being supplied to the device or as it is built up therevvithin. Prior devices have not been satisfactory because their accuracy has been detrimentally affected by such pressure variations.

Furthermore, these devices have not been practical due to the thermostatic unit being confined within the shower head, thereby limiting its application accordingly and preventing its use with ordinary staple shower heads.

It is therefore a principal purpose of this invention to embody positive security in operation in a thermostatic device of separate unit construction, capable of application to any shower head or other fluid dispensing device, the said unit being relatively economical to manufacture.

Another important object is to provide a device of this character with a cut-olif temperature adjusting means to facilitate a factory setting, the said adjustment preferably being concealed so as to discourage tampering subsequent to installation by unqualified persons. At the same time, the device typifying my invention is capable of being adjustable relatively easily by those who are qualified for the many various types of service.

Another object of this invention is to provide for a device which is suitably vented so as to avoid having water pressure bearing on the bellows and avoiding the otherwise objectionable effect of pressure variations upon the accurate performances of the device.

A further object is to provide for a device which embodies the use of an ejector principle to prevent the building up of pressure within the bellows and to assist in the draining of `fluid, accumulations within the bellows and to maintain atmospheric pressure therein.

Another advantage lies in the provision for the easy and quick renewal of the bellows unit without the dismantling of any difcult or permanent joints.

Another object lies in providing for a device in which the normal velocity therethrough is not objectionably reduced and in which the flow may be easily controlled.

Other advantages will become apparent upon reading the specification which follows in connection with the drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a sectional assembly view of the unit, in which provision` is made for the bellows being adjustable at the upper portion of the unit or casing.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of a modified form of the construction shown in Fig. l, featuring a special pro- 20 vision for draining the vents.

Fig. 3 is a sectional assembly view of a further modified form in which the bellows is fiXedly supported preferably within the lower portion of the casing and in which the valve seat itself is pref- 25 erab-ly made axially adjustable in order to provide for the necessary movement commensurate with the desired thermostatic range of operation.

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary sectional assembly view of a modified form in which a type of valve gen- 30 erally known as a slide valve is used to control the outlet flow of the unit.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly 35 to Fig. 1, the casing l is` shown, for illustrative purposes only, threadedly connected to the inlet head 2 which upon its interior bears against a compressible gasket 3 for purpose of making a leak-proof joint. Between the head 2 and the 40 casing l the strainer or screen 4 and the spider or spoked guide 5 is interposed, the latter having the usual plurality of inlet ports 5b through which the line liquid being carried passes subsequently into the interior of the casing I as indi- 45 cated by the arrows. The inlet head 2 is preferably provided with pipe threads 6 for attachment of the entire assembly to the inlet supply line (not shown). Threadedly attached to the centrally positioned hub l of the spider 5, a stem 8 50 is flxedly connected to the bellows cup 9 by means of the nut H which is annularly disposed against the shoulder l2 of the stem 8, thus in effect holding the stem in interlockable engagement with the inverted bellows cup 9 and thus preferably 55 Yco allowing the latter to be non-rotatably adjustable. Between the exterior corrugated surface of the bellows I 3 and the inner walls of the aforesaid inverted cup 9, a suitab-le thermostatically active liquid I3b is contained, a leak-proof joint being maintained between the upwardly extendingperipheral rim of the lower sealing washer I4 and the interior of the bellows cup 9 by means of a brazed, soldered or other suitable joint. A similar construction is likewise followed in making the connection at the Vlower inwardly extending flange I5 where it contacts at I6 with the lower portion of the bellows I3.

The upper bellows washer I'I is Vpreferably provided with a downwardly suspended Vstem or spindle I8 positioned within the interior of the bellows I3 and preferably attached thereto as at I9 in a leak-proof connection. Suitably attached to the lower end portion of the cup 9, a cap 2I provides for the vent tubes 22 being threadedly or otherwise attached in a leak-proof connection as at 23. f

The central portion of the cap 2I is suitably bored for an aperture 24 which `permits the spindle I8 to extend therethrough, as indicated.

In referring to the construction shown it will now be evident that by virtue of the relatively heavy cup or armored enclosure 9 the thermostatic bellows I3 and the fluid element |31)y are substantially unaffected by the pressure of the liquid flowing through the unit. In addition, it yshould be further evident that the actual pressure against which the thermostat must act to close the valve is in all cases within the bellows chamber I3a not exceeding that of the surround- `ing' atmosphere,

It will be further evident that in general the moving parts of the valve are so arranged that there is little likelihood of binding so as to affect the operation of the valve mechanism.

In addition, the unit is so designed that theV flow of water through the device will not objectionably affect the operation of the thermostatic unit.

The valve closure member 25 is preferably attached to the spindle I8 by means of the locknut 26 and the stem shoulder 21. The vent tubes 22 project through the casing I, as indicated, preferably for relative reciprocal engagement therewith, depending upon the desired adjustment of the bellows cup. Leakage past the outsideof the vent tubes is prevented by the packing 28 being suitably compressed by the packing nut 29. Thus, the water passing through the casing past the bellows cup-9 follows into the downstream or discharge, as indicated by the arrows. I

The amount of liquid passing through the assembled unitis, of course, determined by the area of annular space existing between the lower portion of the iiow control member 26 and the seat 3I. YThe water then passes into the port 32, through the passage 33 and into the shower head or other fixture to which the thermostatic safety unit may be attached for purpose of providing the desired volume control and-for prevention of scalding.v

The adjustability of this form of construction (Fig. 1) is readily obtained by rotating the threaded stem 8 by means of the screwdriver slot thereon, thus causing the stem 8 to be moved axially in the direction desired, depending upon the amount of flow to be accommodated, as well as the temperature thereof. f A

Y In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, the water accumulating within the chamber I3a preferablyV drains to atmosphere, and in its customary installation drains preferably upon the oor of the shower chamber and the like. In some instances, however, it may be deemed desirable to provide an enclosed drain discharging within the outlet of the casing unit rather than into the atmosphere.

In Figs, 2 and 3, the modifications shown illustrate the convenient manner in which the draining may be accomplished in order to prevent such dripping which might otherwise fall to the shower chamber floor. f

Referring to Fig. 2, this form is accomplished by enclosing the ends of the vent tubes 22 preferably by means of the threaded and slotted plug 34, which preferably at one end compresses the packing 35 and allows the condensate or line water to drain into the hollow passage 36 and then discharge therefrom by means of the peripherally arranged ports 31 into the central or main passage 33. As indicated, the stopplug 34 is preferably locked in position by means of the locknut 38 and the washer 39. In other respects the upper structure of the unit (not shown) is preferably identical with that shown in Fig. l insofar as the adjustability of the bellows is vconcerned.

Directing attention to Fig. 3, a modified form is shownin which the bellows cup 9 is preferably made non-adjustable insofar as axial movement thereof is concerned, since it is preferably held against the annunlar bosses or shoulders Ia of the casing I,-forming a pressure tight connection in cooperation with the gaskets Ib which are preferably positioned diametrically opposite, as indicated. The bellows cup 9 is preferably fixedly attached, as illustrated, to the spider or spoked guide 5 by means of the threaded connection provided-by the shank 5a cooperating with theextension shank 9a of the bellows cup. The latter being fixedly positioned as shown, the adjustability for thermostatic changes is accomplished by axially moving the seat bushing 3Ia which is threadedly mounted within Vthe casing I. Such adjustability may be obtained by means of the polygonally formed socket 3Ib engageable by a tool for purpose of rotation through the port opening 33 or any other suitable means for rotating the seat bushing Sla, as desired.

In the above construction as well as that illustrated in Fig. 2, because of the relatively high velocity of the water as it-passes into the chamber 42, a suction or aspiratory action is created within the vent tubes 22 so as to forcibly draw forth the condensate accumulating within the bellows chamber as well as to substantially offset the possible effects of back pressure building up within the bellows chamber I3a. The vent tubes 22 in this'construction (Fig. 3) discharge into the ports 22a, and then into thev main discharge chamber 42.

In directing attention to the modified formy of control shown in Fig. V4.. the construction in general is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 insofar as the actuating means itself is concerned except that the flow control member 26 instead of being constructed so as to seat positively if necessary, the seat 3| is preferably provided with'a cylindrical extension 3 Ih having circumferentially arranged openings 3Ia over which the closure member 26 provided with the hollow cylindrical portion 26a, is slidably fitted. Thus, by its movement upwardly or downwardly, depending upon whether the' action of the bellows I3 is contracting or expanding, the slotted ports 3Ia are shut or else, as illustrated, opened so as to allow for the passage of fluid therethrough and then passing into the respective descending discharge ports 3l, 32 and 33. The vertically slidable control member 26 is preferably attached to the stern IB of the operating bellows I3 by means of a split pin 3lc extending therethrough, although it is obvious that any convenient means of attachment may also be used. It is equally evident that the seat 3l may be made either integral or else adjustable with relation to` the body member l. It may also be attached otherwise than threadedly, as illustrated. The particular detailed method oi varying or shutting 01T the flow may likewise be modiiied without substantially affecting the results accomplished and in this respect will depend largely upon the class of service in which the unit is installed.

It is thus obvious to those skilled in the art that only preferred embodiments of my invention have been herein illustrated and other constructions readily suggest themselves. Changes may therefore be made in the detailed constructions, as well as in the arrangement of the parts illustrated, Without departing from the spirit of the invention itself. Therefore, as to the limitation of this invention, reference is to be made only to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a thermostatic unit comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a cup member adjustably carried Within the said casing, a tubular corrugated wall within the said cup, a head secured to one end of the said wall, the space between the said head, Wall and cup constituting a thermostatic vessel, a valve for the said outlet, means operatively connecting said valve and said head, drain means extending from the interior of the said cup and having ported means for being actuated by the aspiratory effect of the discharge of liquid therefrom into the said outlet.

2. In a thermostatic unit comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a cup member adjustably supported within the said casing for selective longitudinal positioning, a tubular corrugated wall positioned Within the said cup, a head secured to the other end of said Wall, the space between thesaid head, Wall and cup constituting a thermostatic vessel, a valve for the said outlet, a valve stem operatively' connecting said valve and said head, movable conduit drain means from the said cup extending into the outlet end of the said casing to discharge therewithin, the normal flow past said valve creating an aspiratory effect within said drain means.

3. In a thermostatic unit comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a cup member adjustably supported Within the said casing, a tubular corrugated Wall positioned within the said cup, a head secured to the other end of said Wall, the space between the said head, Wall and cup constituting a thermostatic vessel, a valve for the said outlet, a Valve stem operatively connecting said valve and said head, conduit drain means from the said cup communicating With the outlet end of the said casing to discharge therewithin by the aspiratory effect created by the normal flow past the valve seat.

ROY H. ZINKIL. 

